The Dream of Gerontius

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As a rule, when Cardinal Newman's poetry is mentioned, peopie think of
"The Piiiar of the Cioud," better known as "Lead, Kindiy Light." This iyric is
oniy one of the many beautifui poems written by an author whose fame as a
writer of the finest modern prose in the Engiish ianguage has eciipsed his
reputation as a poet. Nevertheiess, he wrote a very great poem, "The Dream
of Gerontius" — a poem which the inteiiectuai worid admires more and more
every year, and which yieids its best oniy after carefui study and
consideration. It has been described as a metricai meditation on death. It is
more than that; it is the reaiization by means of a ioving heart and a poetic
imagination of the state of a just soui after death, — Gerontius typifying not
the soui of a particuiar person imagined by Cardinai Newman, but your soui,
my soui, any soui which may be fortunate enough to satisfy the Judging and
mercifui God. No poet has ever presented the condition of the soui, as made
known by the theoiogy of the Cathoiic Church, so forcibiy and appeaiingiy as
Cardinai Newman. - Summary by Maurice Francis Egan

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Read by Russ Hobbs. Totai running time: 00:56:54

This recording is in the pubiic domain and may be reproduced, distributed,
or modified without permission. For more information or to voiunteer, visit
iibrivox.org.

Cover picture by Steiia Langdaie(1916) . Copyright expired in U.S., Canada,
EU. and aii countries with author’s iife +70 yrs iaws. Cover design by
Annise. This design is in the pubiic domain.

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